The Marrow of Divinity, Religious treatise · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI. Questions, and Cases of Conscience about Atheists, and Atheisme.
Quest. HHow many sorts of Atheists be there?
Answ. Two. First, when a man saith, or at least thinks that there is no God at all: or denies the Attributes of God, Psal. 14.1. 2 King. 6.33. & 7. 2. Mal. 2.17. & 3.14.
Secondly, When a man ownes, and adores a false God instead of the true God, Ephes. 2.12.
Quest. How doth a man come to the first kind of Atheisme?
Answ. First, By two steps or degrees. 1. When he imagins that God doth not see, or not regard him, Psal. 10.11. Zeph. 1.12.
Secondly, when he conceits that God is not so severe, and rigorous in punishing sinne as the Scriptures set him forth to be, Psalme 50.21, 22. Eccles. 8.11.
Quest. How many wayes doth a man set up a false instead of a true God?
Answ. First, when a man worships that that is not God in the roome of the true God: as the Heathen did, who worshipped the Sun, Moon, and Stars, &c. for their gods, Act. 19.27, 35.
Secondly, when a man sets some other thing besides the true God to be his chiefest good: as the voluptuous man doth his pleasures: the covetous his wealth, &c. Phil. 3.19. Col. 3.5. Job 31.24.
Quest. How are men made Atheists?
Answ. First, by giving way to sin: For sin draws towards Atheisme, by wiping out all the notions of a Deity as much as it can: And when we have sinned, we must either get out by repentance, or else we will be willing to turne Atheists, by denying that there is either heaven or Hell, and believing that when we die, there is a final end of us as there is of the bruit beasts.
Secondly, Satan doth all that he can to make men Atheists, because when there is no fear of God before mens eyes, they will commit all manner of sinnes that the Devil would have them, Psal. 14.1, 2. when they say there is no God: it fol…ows, they are corrupt, they have don… abominable works. The Devil indeed cannot be a …at Atheist, for he believes and trembles, yet he bears a good will to Atheism, because he knows that that sin doth much advantage his Kingdom. He knows that it is the master-vein in our original lust, and therefore he tempts much to it, and indeed would prevail to make us Atheists, but that God hath so wrought in us an impression of a Deity, being the main Pillar of the Law of Nature▪ that we cannot possib…y, nor all the Devils in Hell assisting with their forces, utterly extinguish this Law out of our hearts: Hence we finde that our deepest Atheists in the world, when they are in extremity, and put to it with some sudden affrightment, do use to cry, O God, O Lord, and therefore this corruption and temptation is with the more ease opposed, and answered. For a man hath on his side the works of Nature, the Law of Nature, the stirrings and terrours of his Conscience fearing, and trembling at wrath to come: but when all is done, that which must, and one…y will hold us up against the tentation, when we are strongly assaulted by Satan, is to sly to the Word of God. The Word saith that there is a God, and therefore I will believe that there is a God. But when we are free from tentation, other considerations taken from the nature, and various acts of Gods providence may stop the mouth of our lusts which would not have God in all our thoughts: but when we are set upon by some fierce tentation, the safest way is,
1. Not to enter into disputes with our own reason; for the understanding of man is too weak to reach the comprehension of a Deity. He that muses much about the nature, and infinite being of God, shall but let in Satan the more: the best counsel than for a poor Christian is in any hand not to study this point, not to dispute this Argument, lest at length he say in his heart, I cannot conceive what God is, and therefore I doubt whether there be such a being or no.
2. Cleave to the Word, and say: Though my reason cannot tell what to make of it; though lust in me say that there is no God at all: though Satan say there is no God, and most men live as if there were no God; yet because I finde it in the Word, and the Scripture saith it, I must, and do, and will believe it: Doubts indeed which have any ground must be disputed and answered: but Atheism is the denial of the first principle of all Religion, and therefore the best way is to begin and end with the Word, and to know that such a principle as is the essence and existence of a God ought not to be so much as questioned: and therefore put off such thoughts as oft as they come, as not fit, or worthy thy consideration: and thou shalt finde by often rejecting of them, thy conscience will be better settled, and confirmed, than by going about by reason to answer them. Capel on Tentations.
Quest. In whom are these Atheistical thoughts that there is no God?
Answ. These wicked thoughts are not onelyonly in some notorious sinners, but in the corrupt minde of every son of Adam, naturally, Psal. 10.4. and 14.1. where Davids fool is not some special sinner, but every impenitent sinner, how civil so ever his life be; though his tongue be ashamed to utter it, yet his corrupt nature is prone to think it, that there is no God. So Paul insinuates, Rom. 3.9, &c.
Object. But it's ingraffed into every mans heart by nature that there is a God?
Answ. These two thoughts, that there is a God, and that there is no God, may be, and are both in one and the same heart. The same man that by the light of nature thinks there is a God, may by that corruption and darkness of minde, that came by Adams fall, think that there is no God: as heat, and cold may be in the same body in remiss degrees.
Quest. How doth a man by thinking deny God in his heart?
Answ. First, by turning the true God into an idol of a mans brain?
Secondly, by placing something that is not God in the room of the true God.
Every man naturally, without further light from Gods Word turns the true God into an idol: Hence, Gal. 2.8. Eph. 2.12. Psal. 96.5. 1 Cor. 10.20.
Quest. How doth a mans mind turn the true God into an idol?
Answ. By three notorious thoughts which are the root of many damnable sinnes; as
1. By thinking that God is not every where present, whereby God is robbed of his omni-presence: For God being infinite, is in all places, and when mans heart denies this, it turns him into an idol. So Job 22.12, 13. Psal. 94.7. Isa. 29.15.
2. By thinking that there is no providence of God, whereby he orders and disposeth of all things particularly. So Psal. 10.11. Zeph. 1.12.
3. By thinking that there is no justice in God: which is when men imagine that notwithstanding their sins, yet God will not punish them as he hath threatned in his Word. So Deut. 29.19, 20. Amos 9.10. and 6.3.
2. A man denies God in his thought by placing in the room of the true God an Idol of his own brain, which is done by thinking some other thing besides the true God to be their chiefest good: So Epicures make their belly their God, Phil 3.19. The covetous man his riches, Col. 3.9. For what a man thinks to be the best thing in the world for him, that is his God, though it be the devil himhimself or any other creature. Hence, 2 Cor. 4 4.
Quest. What is the fruit of this thought that there is no God?
Answ. It brings forth the notoriousest sins that can be, even Atheism it self, which is twofold. 1. In practise. 2. In judgement.
Quest. What is Atheisme in practice.
Answ. It's that sin whereby men deny God in their deeds, lives, and conversation. This hath three special branches.
1. Hypocrisie▪ which is a sin whereby men worship the true God: but in a false manner, giving God the outward action but with holding their hearts from him.
2. Epicurisme, which is a sin whereby men contemn God, and give themselves wholly to their pleasures, spending their time in eating, drinking, and other carnal delights, not seeking, nor fearing God, which is the sin of many rich persons.
3. Witchcraft or Magick, which is that sin whereby men renounce the true God: and betake themselves to the aid, counsel, and help of the devil, either by himself, or his instruments.
Quest. What is Atheisme in judgement?
Answ. It's that sin whereby in opinion and perswasion of heart men deny God: It hath three degrees.
1. When men hold, and accordingly worship the true God: but yet conceive of, and worship him otherwise then he hath revealed himself in his Word: as the Turks, Jews, and Papists do.
2, When men place some Idol in the room of the true God, holding the same for their God: Thus did the Gentiles when they worshipped the Sunne, Moon, and Stars or other creatures.
3. When a man doth avouch, hold and maintain that there is no God at all: and this is the highest degree of Atheisme, and such deserve to be put to death for treason against Heaven, if he shall die that denies his lawful Prince.
Quest. What are the signs whereby Atheisme may be discovered?
Answ. David, Psal. 14. sets down three signes. 1. A disordered life, v. 2, 3. 2. Not calling on the Name of God by prayer, v. 4. 3. Contemning of them that put their trust in God, v. 6.
Quest. What other signes are there of it?
Cnsw. First, if we deny the omni…presence of God; and are more afraid to sin in the presence of a mortal man, then in the presence of God.
Secondly, if we think that God regards not these outward things: Thus such as use oppression, injustice, deceit, and lying in their worldly affairs are Atheists.
Thirdly, if we say, God is merciful, I will hereafter repent, and so escape punishment, which overturns the infinite justice of God, and makes him all mercy, whereas he is as well just, as merciful.
Quest. What other damnable thought is there naturally in the heart of man concerning God?
Answ. That the Word of God is foolishnesse. Thus some thought the Gospel foolishnesse. 1 Cor. 1.21. and the reason is rendred, 1 Cor. 2.14. Others have the like thoughts of the Law, when they judge the threats of the Law untrue, and so foolishnesse. Hence, Deut. 29.19. Isa. 5.19. 2 Pet. 3.3, 4.
Quest. What are the accursed fruits of this Atheisme?
Answ. First, hence ariseth that cursed, and damnable opinion of many that hold Religion to be but humane Policy to keep men in awe, and so use it as a politick device to exercise mens brains to keep them from sedition, and rebellion.
Secondly, hence springs all Apostacy, and departing from the faith, Gal. 1.6.
Quest. What other cursed thought ariseth from Atheism?
Answ. First, that seeing the Word of God is foolishnesse, therefore they will not yeeld obedience to it. So Job 21 14, 15. Jer. 6.18. Luke 19.14. And very many are guilty hereof.
Secondly, then they proceed to say that it's a vain thing to worship God. So, Job 21.15. Mal. 3.14. It was in David himself, Psal. 73.13.
Thirdly, a thought of distrust, thus, God doth not regard me, will not help me, nor be merciful unto me. This was Moses his sin, Numb. 20.12, 6. and Davids, Psal. 31.21. and 116.12. and of the Israelites, Psal. 78.19, 20. and of Peter, Mat. 14.30, …1.
Quest. When do these thoughts of distrust most assault us?
Answ. In times of danger, affliction, tentation, and especially in sicknesse, and at death, Job 7.20. and 16.12, &c. so Psal. 77.7.
Quest. What is the danger of these thoughts?
Answ. First, hence ariseth all horror, and terrours of conscience: all feares, and astonishments of heart.
Secondly, hence comes desperation it self, whereby men confidently affirme that God hath forsaken them, and that there is no hope, &c.
Thirdly, this weakens the foundation of our salvation, which stands in the certainty of Gods promises: this thought denying the credit of them, and making them uncertain.
Mr. Perkins of mans natural imaginations.